Gate-latch



G...GOLDEN.

GATE LATCH (No Model.)

Patented Nov. 11. 1890.

Wain/6&3 es

AMA

6(60C76 olden Emma ,TATES GEORGE GOLDEN, OF AVOOA, MICHIGAN.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,396, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed June 23, 1890. Serial No. 356,357. (No model.)

To a-ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE GOLDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avoca, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fastenin gs for gates; and the invention consists in an attachment to ordinary hinged gates whereby the gate may be readily fastened and opened with greater facility than in the ordinary construction of gate-fastenings, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a gate to which my improvement is applied, showing the construction of the device in diagram. Fig.2 is a detachedperspective view of the device on a large scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on line was, and Fig. 4: is a horizontal section on line yy through the frame.

A B are the gate-posts, and G is the gate, hinged to one of the posts, all constructed and arranged in a known manner, as in the construction of ordinary hinged gates.

My device may be attached to either side of the gate, and consists of a frame D, to which the parts are secured, and which is provided with means for fastening it to the gate, countersunk holes Ct being shown in the drawings as the means for fastening the said frame to the gate by screws. The frame is provided with a vertical flange b, to which is detachably secured the latch-spring E, which is substantially of known form, and is adapted when the gate is closed to engage into the notch c of a suitable keeper F, secured in proper relation to said latch on the gate-post. The upper end of this latch is provided with an eye d, into which detachably engages one end of the connecting-rod G. This rod passes through a vertical guide-slot H in the frame and is pivotally secured at the opposite end to the arm 1, formed on the transverse rock-shaft J This rock-shaft is journaled in a bearing K, adj ustably secured to the frame, and the ends are provided with suitable handles L on oplonger shafts.

posite sides of the gate. The frame D has a horizontal arm "e upon which is formed a fiatbearingf, upon which the journal-bearing K is adapted to be adjustably secured from or toward the latch-spring in any suitable manner, preferably by means of adjustingholes h, through which the bolt g passes to secure said journal-bearing.

I preferably construct the journal-bearing so as to permit of readily dismounting the rock-shaft J, as it may be desirable for diiferent thicknesses of gates to provide shorter or To this end I preferably construct the journal-bearingK, as shown in Fig. 3, of two like angle-plates provided with corresponding apertures for the rock-shaft to pass through and with coincident holes for the securing-bolt g.

The frame is made of symmetrical form, so as to be reversible, to permit of using it either right or left. To this end the latch-springE is detached from the flange b, and after unhooking it from the connecting-rod G is secured in opposite direction to the flange b, a suitable bolt-hole i being provided for the purpose. The j ournal-bearing K is also detached from the arm 6 of the frame and secured to the opposite side thereof. Then the connect ing-rod is again secured or engaged with the latch-spring.

My device, being arranged and constructed as described, is intended to operate as follows: The frame being secured to the swinging end of the gate, with the latch-spring projecting, the latter is free to engage with the keeper F, as in the ordinary operation of gates provided with latches of this description, and when the gate is closed the handles on the rock-shaft are in such position thatby giving a slight turn with the hand the connecting-rod G will withdraw the latch-spring from its engagement with the keeper. The gate may be pushed or drawn open, as usual, and after releasing the handle the parts will return into normal position, allowing the gate to be closed in the usual manner.

There are many advantages to my device. In the first instance it prevents the latch E from being broken, misplaced, or becoming inoperative, as it will be seen that the connecting-rod G not only holds it from being maliciously tampered with, but the engigement of said connecting-rod through the guide-slot H prevents the forcible bending of the spring from one side to the other, no matter what force is applied to pull the gate open or throw the gate into closed position. Further, by adjusting the journal-bearing upon the arm 6 the spring is regulated to project the proper distance so as to swing clearof the keeperwhen depressed, and readily finds its engagement when the gate is swung closed, thus obviating one of the most frequent difficulties with the use of ordinary latch-springs.

A further advantage is that my device permits the use of a strong spring and still can be opened by a child, as it will also be seen that it makes no difference in which direction the handles are turned for opening the gate.

' Latch-springs of any description are known to have several objections, and especially persons not familiar with the particular gate are often liable to hurt their fingers or lose considerable time in finding out the way of opening the latch. All this is avoided in my construction, and necessarily contributes beside the comfort to the permanent maintenance of the operative condition of the gate.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A gate-fastener composed of the following parts: a frame provided with means for securing it to the gate, a latch-spring secured to said frame and adapted to engage with a keeper on the gate-post, a rook-shaft journaled transversely the frame and provided with means for operating it, and a connecting-rod connecting a rock-arm on said rock-shaft with the free end of the latchspring, substantially as described.

2. A gate-fastener composed of the following parts: the reversible frame provided with means for securing it to the gate, the latchspring detachably and reversibly secured to said frame, the rock-shaft journaled transversely the frame and provided with handles upon its opposite ends, the journal-bearings for said rock-shaft reversibly secured to said frame, the rock-arm on the rock-shaft, and the connecting-rod connecting said rock-arm with the free end of the latch-sprin g, substantially as described.

3. A gate-fastener composed of the following parts: the reversible frame D, provided with the vertical flange b and arms 6, the latch-spring E, detachably secured to the flange b, the keeper F, into which the latchspring is adapted to engage, the rock-shaft J, provided with the rock-arm I, and handles L, the connecting-rod G, detachably secured to the free end of the latch-spring and passing through a guide-slot in the frame, the journal-bearings K of the rock-shaft constructed in two parts, the bearings f, formed on the arm e of the frame and provided with adjusting-holes, and the bolt g, detachably securing the journ al-bearings K to the frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE GOLDEN.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODoeHERTY, P. M. HULBERT. 

